2io THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. jx. 



numerous small clusters of bushes, above which, we 

 shortly discovered the flapping ears of the elephants ; 

 they were slowly feeding towards the more open ground. 

 It was a lovely afternoon, the sky was covered with a 

 thin grey cloud, and the sun had little or no power. 

 Hiding behind a bush, we watched the herd for some 

 time, until they had all quitted the bushes and were 

 well out in the open. There were two elephants facing 

 us, and the herd, which consisted of seven, were 

 tolerably close together, with the exception of one, 

 who was about thirty yards apart from the main body ; 

 this fellow we determined to catch. We therefore 

 arranged that our gun-bearers and four rope-carriers 

 should accompany us, while the remaining portion of 

 our party should lie in reserve to come to our assist- 

 ance when required, as so large a body of men could 

 not possibly stalk the herd without being discovered. 

 Falling upon our hands and knees, we crept between 

 the grassy ant-hills towards the two leading elephants, 

 who were facing us. The wind was pretty brisk, and 

 the ant-hills effectually concealed us till we were 

 within seven paces of our game. The two leaders 

 then both dropped dead to the front shot, and the fun 

 began. The guns were so well handed up, that we 

 knocked over the six elephants before they had given 

 us a run of twenty yards, and we all closed up and 

 ran under the tail of the retreating elephant that we 

 had devoted to the ropes. He was going at about 



